Tour Log: Philips Arena, July 13 2011
Sade’s career has resembled a comet in recent decades. The revered songstress has been quite content to drop critically acclaimed albums, add a subsequent world tour, and then disappear for 10 years. It’s made her music, and especially her live appearances, that much more special. For this sixth tour, entitled Once in a Lifetime, Sade has fused her music with strong theatrical elements to create a wholly entertaining and touching event.
With this being the second consecutive Atlanta show, and it being on a Wednesday, many fans were late in arriving. The official show time was 7:30, but the Philips Arena was not even half-way full when John Legend began his opening set a little after the 8 p.m. hour. Those in attendance were won over by Legend’s mix of his own hits like “Lifted,” and covers of soul classics like Baby Huey’s “Hard Times.” The biggest responses came when Legend serenaded and slow-danced with a fan on stage, and his rendition of “Ordinary People.” The latter was such a favorite that Legend was able to let the audience handle the chorus duties. To keep the energy strong, he concluded with the upbeat “Greenlight,” teasing a possible Andre 3000 appearance.
In this digital, all-access age, Sade has been one of the few artists that’s kept her mystique. This was apparent by the anxiousness the crowd exhibited in waiting for a glimpse of her. Clad in all black, she rose from the bottom of the stage as the stabbing chords for “Soldier of Love” hit. The crowd went into a frenzy at the first glimpses of her stoic pose, forcing Sade to crack a slight smile. The crowd’s roars reached an even higher pitch when the signature deepness of her voice reverberated throughout Philips Arena. Later, Stuart Matthewman’s wailing sax signaled “Your Love Is King” as the next song, prompting all the lovers in the crowd to remain standing in tight embraces. Sade was falling more into her performance as well, throwing leg kicks to accentuate the song’s transitions.
Although the majority of Sade’s music lends itself to quiet reflection and intimacy, she made excellent use of the arena’s wide stage and towering jumbotron. “Kiss of Life” featured a rolling POV video with Sade frolicking in the summer grass. The tasteful close-ups of Sade’s face and upper body gave you the visual that you were actually the one intertwined with her, no doubt a great fantasy of many men and some women in attendance. On “Smooth Operator,” the tron was used to set up a nightclub setting while Sade changed into a sharp cocktail ensemble. With “Love Is Found,” the tron showcased an urgent, sensual dance of lovers.
The soothing timbre of Sade’s contralto has always given a dreamy, almost mystical element to her music. She added to that mystique by performing a handful of songs with the stage enveloped by a transparent white fabric. The material reflected out scenes while Sade was still visible inside, making her look spirit-like and the performances akin to a dream sequence. “Bring Me Home” featured images of a desolate road journey. “Morning Bird,” with Sade now clad in an elegant white evening gown, featured the mournful ballad surrounded by visuals of a bleak, white-washed forest.
On last year’s Soldier of Love, this writer speculated that the sparse, more subdued arrangements reflected an effort by the band to accommodate Sade’s voice becoming weaker in recent years. At least on this night, that theory has turned out to be erroneous. Sade showed she could still hit those soul-stirring notes with an absolutely riveting performance of “Is It a Crime.” The desperation, anger and heartache of the lyrics and Sade’s voice elicited wild applause and woos after each verse. The conclusion resulted in her umpteenth standing ovation of the night.
The most upbeat moment of the evening came courtesy of Sade’s medley of “Paradise” and “Nothing Can Come Between Us.” On the former, she strutted confidently around the stage, snapping her fingers and posing when the steel drums hit. With the latter, she let two lively male background singers lead the crowd in a call and response for the entire track.
Streaming confetti fell for what appeared to be the concert’s final song, “By Your Side.” The mellow groove once again had everyone standing and swaying to the rhythms. While satisfying, there was one classic song Sade hadn’t covered in her two hours on stage, “Cherish the Day.” With the house lights not coming on, the audience knew to carry on their cheers for a few extra minutes to prompt the encore.
Sade made her final appearance sporting a sultry red dress, walking into view as the opening notes of “Cherish the Day” echoed softly. Sade capped the last verse by having a stage prop propel her at least 20 feet in the air, much to the awe of everyone in attendance.
Sade aptly named this tour Once in a Lifetime. At 52 years old, and releasing new albums roughly every 8-10 years since 1992, there’s no guarantee that Sade will do another worldwide tour on this scale. If she happens to make a stop anywhere near you, do yourself an immense favor and let Sade enchant your soul.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 